Las Vegas Raiders Top 5 free safety options in 2026 NFL draft

IOWA CITY, IA - NOVEMBER 08: Dillon Thieneman #31 of the Oregon Ducks pursues a play on defense during a college football game against the Iowa Hawkeyes on November 08, 2025 at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City, Iowa. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images Free safety remains one of the biggest weak spots on the Las Vegas Raiders’ roster, hence why the position is widely considered one of the Raiders’ top needs heading into the 2026 NFL draft . The defense struggled to create turnovers last season and currently lacks a true ballhawk to patrol the backend of the secondary.

That puts adding a safety on the table with the 36th overall selection, and it wouldn’t be surprising if John Spytek traded back into the first round to get one. With that in mind, let’s take a look at the Raiders’ top five options in the draft at free safety. All draft projections below are via NFL Mock Draft Database’s consensus big board and as of March 31.

In full disclosure, Ohio State’s Caleb Downs is omitted from the list below since Downs will likely be a top 10 pick. While trading up was mentioned above, realistically, Las Vegas would make a deal to get into the late teens or the 20s, not high enough to land the former Buckeye. 1.

Dillon Thieneman, Oregon Draft projection: 18th overall 2025 Stats : 96 tackles, 2 INTs, 5 PDs Thieneman tore up the NFL Combine by running a 4. 35-second 40-yard dash and recording a 41-inch vertical jump to help post a 9. 81 RAS .